Welcome to the Healthiest Practice Open Streets Blog

There's a small but growing body of academic research on the impact of Open Streets programs across North America. To date, the findings of this research have largely been limited to academic journals making much of it inaccessible to many stakeholders who might find the results helpful – until now.

We want stakeholders of all varieties – media, business owners, residents, elected officials, advocates and more – to understand the tangible benefits of Open Streets programs. That's why we've been working with a great team of researchers to bring you a series of Open Streets Fact Sheets.

The term "event" suggests something temporary. Something that takes place and then -blink- it's over.

That’s why we avoid the word “event” when discussing our Open Streets programs. At 8–80 Cities we promote and support the development of programs that open streets to people by closing them to cars. We see these as being a bit like the Olympics. Would you call the Olympics an event? We wouldn’t.

Back in September 2014 NRPA’s Vice President of Urban and Government Affairs Kevin O’Hara continued his duties as serving as a member of the Open Streets Network of Champions by taking a trip to Guadalajara, Mexico to experience their open street network, aka ViaRecreActiva.

On September 26-28, I had the pleasure of joining the Open Streets Network of Champions in Guadalajara, Mexico. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and 8-80 Cities hosted the meeting for a diverse group of 25 people to discuss what Open Streets are, what they can be, and to experience Guadalajara’s very successful Open Streets, Via RecreActiva. I flew home enthusiastic for the opportunities that lay ahead, both as an active living researcher and as a fan of all things urban and walking-related.

America’s public health crisis has been well documented. More than two-thirds of adults are overweight, and more than 1 in 10 children become obese as early as ages 2 to 5. Boomers have the highest obesity rates of any age group, topping 35 percent in 17 states. Obesity is related to dozens of serious health issues, including diabetes, heart disease and vascular dementia. Traditional public health intervention efforts in the form of nutrition and exercise education and promotion have had limited success. What is clear is that a crisis of this scale and tenacity requires a fresh approach. Open Streets may be that spark.